U.S. 'obsessed' over reporter: Mahathir

U.S. 'obsessed' over reporter: Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The United States is "obsessed" over the jailing of a Canadian journalist in Malaysia even though he was convicted of breaking the law, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday.

He was referring to Murray Hiebert, Malaysia bureau chief for the Far Eastern Economic Review, who last month was sentenced to six weeks in jail for "scandalizing the court" in a January 1997 article.

Hiebert became the first journalist to be imprisoned in Malaysia in the line of duty and the first to be jailed for contempt in a Commonwealth country in 50 years. He is set to be released on Oct. 11.

The court's decision drew criticism from Canada, the United States and rights groups who said it stifled free speech.